Jacques Iverny French artist Country: France

1. Jacques Iverny: The Master of International Gothic Art
2. Early Career
3. Signed Masterpiece
4. Fresco Masterpiece
5. Legacy and Attribution

Jacques Iverny: The Master of International Gothic Art

Jacques Iverny, a French artist associated with the Avignon School, lived during the early 15th century. The exact dates of his birth and death remain unknown.

Early Career

Iverny's name first appears in a document from 1411. In 1413, he received a commission from Pierre d'Asygny, Senechal of Provence, to paint an altarpiece depicting Christ for the Cathedral of Aix. Another known commission was for an image of Saint Genevieve for the Church of Saint Agricola in Avignon, ordered by François de Noyon, Abbot of the Church of Sainte-Geneviève in Paris. However, none of these paintings have survived.

Signed Masterpiece

The only work definitively attributed to Iverny is a triptych in the Galleria Sabauda in Turin, Italy. Dating from around 1425, it features the Madonna and Child with two angels on the central panel, and Saint Stephen and Saint Lucy on the wings.

Fresco Masterpiece

Iverny's most significant work is the fresco cycle in the Sala Baronale of the Castello della Manta in Piedmont, Italy, executed between 1411 and 1416. On the four walls of the room, Iverny painted several frescoes depicting popular themes of the International Gothic style. Three walls feature portraits of "Heroes and Heroines" from ancient, biblical, and medieval history, including David, Julius Caesar, Semiramis, King Arthur, and Alexander the Great. The fourth wall depicts the "Fountain of Youth," a legendary spring believed to restore youth and vitality.

Legacy and Attribution

The frescoes are considered masterpieces of International Gothic art, but their creation is not documented. Iverny's authorship has been disputed, with some scholars attributing them to artists in the circle of the Turin court painter Giacomo Jaquerio. However, the consensus remains that the frescoes are by Jacques Iverny.